Safety oil-tank



(No Model.)

J. J. FINNIGAN. SAFETY OIL TANK. No. 290,559. Patented Dec. 18, 1883.

N. PETERS mgum rihx. vhmhgtom n.c.

through the said tube.

NITED STATES JOHNJ. rnmIeAN, or SELMA, ALABAMA.

SAF ETY O l L-TAN K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,559, dated December18, 1883.

Application filed November 2, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may. concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN J. FINNIGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Selma, in the county of Dallas and State of Alabama, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Oil-Tanks, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tanks or holders forliquid hydrocarbons and other volatile and inflammable liquids; and ithas for its objects to provide for the escape of the gases'or vaporsgenerated from or arising from the liquid contents of the tank in suchmanner that if ignited on the outside the fire will not be communicatedto the interior in case of a contained explosive mixture of air and gasor vapor, and also to prevent the tendency of such explosive mixtures byexcluding the air, as more fully hereinafter specified. These objects Iattain by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which isrepresented a vertical sectional view of a tank or holder showing myinvention applied thereto.

The letter A indicates a metallic tank of the usual construction,provided with a man-hole and cover, B, near its bottom.

The letters 0 and D indicate the induction and eduction pipes throughwhich the liquid is supplied to and discharged from the tank. Thesepipes are provided with suitable valves, by means of which the flow ofliquid may be regulated and controlled.

The letter 0 indicates a cylindrical chamber mounted upon the upper endof atube, D, secured to the top of the tank, the chamber and tankcommunicating with each other Vithin the lower part of the chamber overthe upper end of the tube, is located a concave-convex disk, E, ofperforated metal or wire-gauze, and above this a series of rings, F,with intervening perforated disks, G, the rings being flanged andsecured together in any convenient manner, and upon the chamber issecured a flat perforated cap, H, for the purpose hereinafter explained.The spaces between the perforated disks are packed with granulatedmaterialsuch as sand, gravel, broken stone, or other similarsubstance-for the purpose hereinafter explained.

I indicatesa cylindrical casing of perforated metal or wire-gauze, whichsits loosely over the chamber, and which is provided with a flat top, K,and a conical hood, L, the latter being for the purpose of sheddingrain. To the top of the hood is'secnred one end of a chain, M, whichpasses over a pulley, N, at the end of a standard, I, on top of thetank. The other end of the chain is carried down the side of the tank,and may be secured to a suitable fastening near the lower part.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The gases or vaporsgenerated in the tank naturally escape at the top, passing through thepacking in the chamber above and out through the openings in the cap. incase the gases should by any means take lire from the outside, the tirewill be excluded from the chamber by the wiregauze c inder surround ingit, and maybe quickly e: ;tinguished by dropping the cylinder so thatits fiat top will cover the perforated cap of the chamber and cut offthe flow of -In case the fire should by any means reach the cap, thepacking will prevent it passing through the chamber in case an explosivemixture should be contained in the tank. Such mixture, however, is notliable to be formed, as it is almost impossible for a sufficient volumeof air to enter through the packing. The packing may consist. of sand,grayel, clay, charcoal, lime, furnaceslag, powdered coke, broken stone,sawdust,

asbestus, or other similar material, either singly or mixed, as mayprove convenient.

It will thus be seen that by my invention all danger of explosion fromthe ignition of explosive gases by lightning or otherwise will beeffectually prevented.

Having described 'my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with a tank for holding volatile liquids, of a chambercommunicating therewith and provided with a series of perforated disksand rings and granulated packing, the perforated cap secured tosaidchamher, the perforated cylinder having a flat top and conical hood, andmeans for elevating and depressing said cylinder, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHK J. FINNIGAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. McCoLLu A. G. PAnnisn.

